Meet Mohammed Aneez: A Creative Storyteller and Minimalist Photographer

WallMag: Tell us about your first introduction to photography. What drew you into this world?

I was interested in photography from a very young age. I always used to play around with mobile cameras and something just got clicked. Instagram wasn't a big back then, so I took inspiration from several photographers whom I saw on Facebook and also from my older cousin, who worked along the same line.

WallMag: How do you prepare for your projects? Do you picture beforehand in your mind the images you take?

Before creating content for my feed or as a part of my projects, I always picture what I want my work to look like, what kind of emotions to entice in my audience, and try to foresee the art that I want to create before I head into it.

WallMag: Where do you get your creative inspiration from?

I believe that inspiration is always all around us, depends on what the people are hyping about that particular period, taking a subject to which the audience can relate to, always has a positive impact on my work. I try to stick to my forte which mainly consists of minimalism and flat lay. I occasionally check out the works of other artists and images shared on Pinterest to get better clarity of what exactly I'm going for.

WallMag: What makes the difference between a good image and an iconic image?

Say, if I were to take about 50 shots, there's a good chance that only 3 of them would make it to my feed. I select photos that I find impressive or 'good' in this case, but an iconic photo for me would be when the photographer is recognized for a particular shot he took. It would be a moment When a photo becomes viral not because of who was behind the lens but what was captured in front of it.

WallMag: What does your workflow look like, from the start of a project to a print?

Well, being a part of the Instagram world, haven't gotten a lot of my works printed, but my workflow would look something like this: 1. If I'm inspired by something, I quickly jot it down in my notes.

2. Try to source all the things that I need for the shoot.

3. Try setting them in different styles, if I'm going for a flat lay and if I'm working on a portrait then I try to play with the lighting and background.

4. Editing and re-editing till I am fully satisfied with the end product. Something I've learned from my journey is that the style, idea, and inspiration is always under improvisation, so what I'm going for and the result might be completely different but as long as I'm satisfied with the work, it goes up on the gram.

WallMag: What tools you for editing? What element makes an image so creative that it can be differentiated from ordinary ones?

The basic tools I use for editing on my phone are VSCO and Snapsneed but if I want to do something specific with a certain picture, I try to work it out in Photoshop or play around a little in Lightroom until I find something I'm satisfied with. The thought that goes behind each shot plays an important role in how the pictures turn out but then again that is dependent on so many other things, but I'd go with, being original or trying out your style in photography is what makes a picture stand out.

WallMag: What’s one quality that you possess as a photographer that sets you apart?

I am someone who started minimal photography when it wasn't popular in India, it is something that I relate to and can create good content out of. I primarily use my phone for most of my photos. I try to create the best photos by just using my phone and basic editing apps, I think that has helped me to stand out a little bit but that's a question more for the audience than it is for me.

WallMag: What works more effectively for your imagination or inspiration?

Inspiration helps but Imagination is what makes it go from a 1 to a 100 because at the end of the day, creativity is based on how far, wide, and crazy you can imagine to put yourself in and that truly helps in creating the best content.

If I can do it, I truly believe that you can too, I know that sounds cliche. People usually think that they need several types of equipment to make their photography better but that's not the truth. Use whatever you have, no matter how little it is, play around with it, find your style and that's how you grow because I am someone who grew on the platform with just my mobile phone. So, for that very reason, I believe you can too.

You can follow Mohammed Aneez on Instagram to stay updated with his work.

You can also have a look to his Youtube Channel.